Kota Kinabalu is the perfect base for various fun tours in the area, and one of the best attractions nearby is a visit to the Klias Wetlands (full name: Klias Wetland Mangrove Forest Reserve). This watery, 1300 km² peat bog is about a 1.5 to 2-hour drive south of the city. It’s a maze of rivers that flow into the sea, surrounded by a massive mangrove forest home to all kinds of unique animal and bird species. The trip is well organized, and after the river cruise, you also get to experience the area “by night”, when fireflies light up the trees. A great day out — and in the evening, you’ll return to your hotel in the city, tired but satisfied.
Highlights during the river cruise
After a short briefing, you put on a life jacket and hop on a special boat. The boat follows a set route along the Klias River, and the guide starts looking for hard-to-spot animals and birds right from the beginning. The main highlight is the Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) — and if we’re to believe the guide, there are over 800 of them living in Klias, spread across several families. Because there are so many and they’re used to tourists, your chances of spotting them are really high.
We ended up seeing several families, all of them already settling in for the night. They usually choose the same kind of trees to sleep in: tall, thick-branched trees close to others so they can escape easily if needed. Once they’ve picked their sleeping spots, they just lie or sit on the branches in full view — perfect for taking some great photos.
Another highlight was the saltwater crocodiles. After spotting a few small ones, the guide suddenly found a huge one hiding under some mangrove roots. The thing was massive — at least 5 meters long, according to the guide. I’d seen crocodiles in Malaysia before, but never one that big.
Besides the proboscis monkeys and crocodiles, you might also see otters, long-tailed macaques, langurs, and a variety of bird species, including hornbills, kingfishers, and more.
The fireflies during the second part of the cruise (after a simple but tasty dinner) are truly the icing on the cake. You’ll see their blinking lights everywhere — in the trees and flying around above the water.
Program of the half-day tour
The tour usually starts with a hotel pick-up in Kota Kinabalu around 2:00–2:15 p.m. The tour company goes around picking up participants from their hotels, and then it’s a drive to the Klias Base Camp, where the tour begins. In our case, we arrived and had a drink at the base camp, then set off around 4:30 p.m. for the first part of the cruise, which focused on spotting wildlife — and we saw plenty!
On the way back, you’ll catch a beautiful sunset — typical for Sabah.
After the river cruise, everyone heads back to the base camp’s information and gathering center for a buffet dinner, which was surprisingly good. Besides filtered water, you can also buy bottled water and soft drinks at the bar (not included in the price).
By that time, it’s already dark, and everyone puts on their life jackets again for the Firefly Cruise. You’ll pass several trees lit up by fireflies. Some trees had the kind that blink in sync, while others had a decent amount of scattered fireflies (though not an overwhelming amount like we’ve seen elsewhere). And while the fireflies were the main draw, the incredibly clear, star-filled sky was also amazing to see from the boat.
After this magical experience, you’ll head back to Kota Kinabalu around 8:00 p.m., and you’ll get dropped off at your hotel by around 9:30–10:00 p.m.
What’s the best place to book the tour?
It doesn’t really matter where you book the tour — the prices aren’t that different whether you book directly through the owner (Borneo Authentic) or through a third party. We usually book through Klook.com, so you’re dealing with a large international company (you also pay in advance by credit card, which adds an extra layer of security). Usually, you can book a trip from around €45 per person, including transfers and dinner.
Once you arrive at the Base Camp, all the groups are divided among the boats. Each boat holds a maximum of about 20 people. This seems like a lot, but there aren’t many other boats as there are only a handful of operators active and Klias is quite remotely located (so no masses).
If you have a rental car, you can also drive to Klias Wetlands yourself. You can buy a ticket on the spot or in advance online via Sabah Travel. You’ll need to be at the meeting point (OIB Klias Base Camp) by 4:00 p.m. at the latest. It’s easy to find using Google Maps or Waze. Tickets cost around RM100 (€20) per person (for two cruises + dinner), and you can book for two or more people.
Just be aware that the road back is dark and has no street lighting (at least for the first part). It’s best to book an overnight stay nearby — there are a few resorts along the beach near Klias. In that case, it’s easier to have the resort owners drop you off at the Base Camp (and pick you up afterwards).
Great half-day tour
A visit to Klias Wetlands is a great half-day tour from Kota Kinabalu. It’s a good alternative if you’re skipping nature areas like at the Kinabatangan River. You could also combine it with a morning visit to Borneo Cultural Village (which is along the way), or stop by the village of Papar.
We thought it was a fantastic afternoon/evening adventure. Cruising down the river searching for wildlife is always fun, and the chances of spotting something are pretty high here — the guides usually know in advance where the Proboscis monkeys sleep along the river (Proboscis have their favorite sleeping spots).
The fireflies were also really nice. We’ve seen them a few times over the years, but it’s always a fun experience watching the trees light up like that. If it’s your first time seeing fireflies, it really is magical.
Tips & Checklist
- Bring sunscreen and wear a cap.
- To be on the safe side, also bring a poncho in case it rains.
- DEET is useful for keeping mosquitoes away.
- It’s nice to have binoculars with you, so you can look for wildlife on your own too. You can also rent binoculars on-site (limited supply).
- A camera with a telephoto lens is helpful — it’s not easy to take sharp photos from the boat with a regular handheld camera.
- You’re not allowed to use flash during the firefly tour. Without a flash, most photos won’t turn out well anyway.
- This tour is also suitable for people with reduced mobility. You don’t need to walk much, but you still have a good chance of spotting wildlife.
- The trip from KK to Klias is quite long. While you’ll get some local snacks upon arrival, it’s a good idea to bring your own snacks too.
- The shuttle bus can get pretty cold, so a sweater might come in handy.
- The tour includes dinner, but you’ll need to pay extra for soft drinks or beer — so make sure to bring some cash.
- In addition to the Klias river cruise, you can also do similar tours on a few nearby rivers. For example the Weston River cruise (lots of crocodiles, closer to the sea) or the Garama River cruise (in addition to lots of proboscis monkeys, you’ll often see water buffalo bathing in the river). These two alternatives are often less crowded, but Klias is the best in terms of photo opportunities (and fireflies).
- The Klias river cruise is often recommended as a great activity near Kota Kinabalu, especially if you’re not planning to visit Kinabatangan on the east side of Sabah. If you are going there, Klias might feel a bit redundant — Kinabatangan is just a little more special due to chances of spotting unique wildlife like orangutans, Borneo pygmy elephants, clouded leopards and more.
- You can also check with nearby accommodations to see if they offer private tours. These are often arranged with friendly locals who live by the river. You’ll get to travel further upriver, increasing your chances of spotting wildlife. There are also fewer other boats, so shy species are less likely to flee. Plus, you can spend more time in the evening looking for trees full of fireflies.
Suggestions?
Got any good tips to share with us? Do you know of any great things to do in Sabah, or tips on the best places to eat? Let us know by leaving a reply below!